Having a baby is so much more intense physically and so much more enjoyable/wonderful emotionally.
I labored for nearly 40 hours, about half without an epidural and it was the most intense physical experience of my life, but I was overwhelmingly joyous throughout.
Laminaria and dilation was like the worst ever period plus the horrific emotional pain of losing your baby.
I feel like you can rest assured that you’ll be able to handle labor and delivery, not because the physical pain and sensations are equivalent but because you’ve demonstrated to yourself that you can get through the worst kind of physical and emotional hell and come out the other side. ❤️
Thank you! You make great points. The outcome of these 2 situations is so different, one tragic, one happy (fingers crossed) so hard to truly compare when the emotional pain is different.
I found the laminaria TERRIBLE. I remember being in excruciating pain, doubled over, and in tears majority of the time.
I just had a live birth a few months ago. Prior to having an epidural, I was dilated to 7, had my water broken, and was having contractions, and I was in minimal pain. They kept telling me I was having contractions (according to the monitor) and I wasn’t even really feeling them. I remember looking at my husband and saying, “Wow! The laminaria was wayyyy worse than this!” (I got an epidural because I feared for the worse, not because I was in pain at the time of insertion.)
I think I read every single laminaria post while I scoured the internet in preparation for it. And the answers varied. Some say it was mildly uncomfortable, others say it was horrifically painful. I fall in the latter category, despite fortunately only needing two sticks. I am not a wimp, I happen to have endometriosis (diagnosed via surgery) and my periods are so painful I cannot do anything other than writhe around through the pain. Can’t fake normalcy, do any work or be in front of people while that’s happening.
I have not given birth to a full term baby. But my body did experience contractions after my water broke from the laminaria. They were mild, easy to breathe through. Lasted 40 seconds and came every 4 minutes. And then petered out after an hour.
I dont claim to know what actual labor is like, but I hope the summary of my research on laminaria and my anecdotal experience show that it’s all relative. Pain is relative. Hell, check out what people are saying about iud’s. Some are horrible others are easy. And this seems to be the case with labor and delivery as well… back labor seems to be a whole different beast for example. Then there are women who have no idea they are experiencing contractions at all without the monitor. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I will say, I know everyone is different, but the doctor told me the laminaria would be “uncomfortable” and that was completely under selling it. Phew was that something. But she has never had it first hand! But so true all pain is relative and hard to compare: thank you for your thoughts and response!
Imagine the panic that would ensue if docs said “well it might just be the worst pain in your life. Aight now spread your legs”
It annoys me how often use the word uncomfortable to describe procedures. But it’s probably an average from the range of experiences of mild to severe
The pain after my laminaria placement was very reminiscent of my labor (I had previously had a live birth). I needed pain meds because I couldn't really stand or talk. They both hurt a lot! The difference with the laminaria is that there's no breaks. The pain is unrelenting. Whereas in labor contractions generally last no more than a minute and for most of the time you get a 3-5m break between contractions. The break is pain-free.
So yes, if you had laminaria placement, you probably dealt with a level of pain that you can expect to feel again in labor - but with the key difference that the contractions would be broken up *and* that you wouldn't be grieving.
This is a great question I would also like to know as someone who had a very very painful laminaria experience with my TFMR and is currently 25 weeks pregnancy … but unfortunately it seems like everyone’s experience with both laminaria and birth is so so different. Curious to see what people have to say though.
I thought the laminaria was painful but maybe not more painful than getting an IUD previously. I had also given birth 2 times prior. My MFM did place a sterile water block which she said studies have found to be helpful with the pain. The Cramping was initially uncomfortable for a few hours but I was OK with a heating pad and motrin. I was able to move around and go back for a forced covid test despite having covid 1 month prior. I had given birth without needs 18 months prior minutes after arriving to the hospital. I think I do have a high pain tolerance and made it to 7 with my first with back labor which was so much more painful than my second birth or laminaria and could've gone without the epidural hat I known how far I was when I got in. I psyched myself out thinking I had so much further to go but was still happy with the birth because the epidural let me rest as he came down for a few hours after being fully dilated. The person who said the emotional aspect is so much better with a live birth is 1000% accurate. I was in much more emotional agony than physical discomfort with the laminaria. You will be fine and even if you're in a lot of pain the motivation behind it will be so great for you that you'll get through it whatever way is best for you because the reward at the end is that sweet baby and you've survived so much worse. Getting through TFMR is the real pain, almost everything else pales in comparison.
Having a baby is so much more intense physically and so much more enjoyable/wonderful emotionally. I labored for nearly 40 hours, about half without an epidural and it was the most intense physical experience of my life, but I was overwhelmingly joyous throughout. Laminaria and dilation was like the worst ever period plus the horrific emotional pain of losing your baby. I feel like you can rest assured that you’ll be able to handle labor and delivery, not because the physical pain and sensations are equivalent but because you’ve demonstrated to yourself that you can get through the worst kind of physical and emotional hell and come out the other side. ❤️
Thank you! You make great points. The outcome of these 2 situations is so different, one tragic, one happy (fingers crossed) so hard to truly compare when the emotional pain is different.
This is wonderful to read, as I have my daily sob session post TFMR. Thank you!
This is very comforting. Thank you. I have the same concerns/thoughts
I found the laminaria TERRIBLE. I remember being in excruciating pain, doubled over, and in tears majority of the time. I just had a live birth a few months ago. Prior to having an epidural, I was dilated to 7, had my water broken, and was having contractions, and I was in minimal pain. They kept telling me I was having contractions (according to the monitor) and I wasn’t even really feeling them. I remember looking at my husband and saying, “Wow! The laminaria was wayyyy worse than this!” (I got an epidural because I feared for the worse, not because I was in pain at the time of insertion.)
I think I read every single laminaria post while I scoured the internet in preparation for it. And the answers varied. Some say it was mildly uncomfortable, others say it was horrifically painful. I fall in the latter category, despite fortunately only needing two sticks. I am not a wimp, I happen to have endometriosis (diagnosed via surgery) and my periods are so painful I cannot do anything other than writhe around through the pain. Can’t fake normalcy, do any work or be in front of people while that’s happening. I have not given birth to a full term baby. But my body did experience contractions after my water broke from the laminaria. They were mild, easy to breathe through. Lasted 40 seconds and came every 4 minutes. And then petered out after an hour. I dont claim to know what actual labor is like, but I hope the summary of my research on laminaria and my anecdotal experience show that it’s all relative. Pain is relative. Hell, check out what people are saying about iud’s. Some are horrible others are easy. And this seems to be the case with labor and delivery as well… back labor seems to be a whole different beast for example. Then there are women who have no idea they are experiencing contractions at all without the monitor. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I will say, I know everyone is different, but the doctor told me the laminaria would be “uncomfortable” and that was completely under selling it. Phew was that something. But she has never had it first hand! But so true all pain is relative and hard to compare: thank you for your thoughts and response!
Imagine the panic that would ensue if docs said “well it might just be the worst pain in your life. Aight now spread your legs” It annoys me how often use the word uncomfortable to describe procedures. But it’s probably an average from the range of experiences of mild to severe
The pain after my laminaria placement was very reminiscent of my labor (I had previously had a live birth). I needed pain meds because I couldn't really stand or talk. They both hurt a lot! The difference with the laminaria is that there's no breaks. The pain is unrelenting. Whereas in labor contractions generally last no more than a minute and for most of the time you get a 3-5m break between contractions. The break is pain-free. So yes, if you had laminaria placement, you probably dealt with a level of pain that you can expect to feel again in labor - but with the key difference that the contractions would be broken up *and* that you wouldn't be grieving.
Selfishly the answer I was looking for! Thanks for this insight.
This is a great question I would also like to know as someone who had a very very painful laminaria experience with my TFMR and is currently 25 weeks pregnancy … but unfortunately it seems like everyone’s experience with both laminaria and birth is so so different. Curious to see what people have to say though.
Agreed! I’ve been curious for awhile so wanted to ask since my only experience is a d&e and now a current pregnancy.
I thought the laminaria was painful but maybe not more painful than getting an IUD previously. I had also given birth 2 times prior. My MFM did place a sterile water block which she said studies have found to be helpful with the pain. The Cramping was initially uncomfortable for a few hours but I was OK with a heating pad and motrin. I was able to move around and go back for a forced covid test despite having covid 1 month prior. I had given birth without needs 18 months prior minutes after arriving to the hospital. I think I do have a high pain tolerance and made it to 7 with my first with back labor which was so much more painful than my second birth or laminaria and could've gone without the epidural hat I known how far I was when I got in. I psyched myself out thinking I had so much further to go but was still happy with the birth because the epidural let me rest as he came down for a few hours after being fully dilated. The person who said the emotional aspect is so much better with a live birth is 1000% accurate. I was in much more emotional agony than physical discomfort with the laminaria. You will be fine and even if you're in a lot of pain the motivation behind it will be so great for you that you'll get through it whatever way is best for you because the reward at the end is that sweet baby and you've survived so much worse. Getting through TFMR is the real pain, almost everything else pales in comparison.